Image pickup system, image pickup method, and computer readable storage medium for generating video signals having first and second dynamic ranges

ABSTRACT

This image pickup system includes an image pickup unit that captures a subject to obtain a pixel signal, and a processing circuit that generates a first video signal having a first dynamic range from the pixel signal generated by the image pickup unit, and generates a second video signal having a second dynamic range correlated with the first dynamic range.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 16/066,883, filed onJun. 28, 2018, the entire contents of which is incorporated herein byreference which is incorporated by reference. U.S. Ser. No. 16/066,883is a National Stage of PCT/JP2016/005218, filed on Dec. 22, 2016, andclaims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 of JapaneseApplication No. 2016-000729, filed Jan. 5, 2016.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present technology relates to an image pickup system, an imagepickup method, and a program with which two types of videos havingdifferent dynamic ranges can be generated from pixel signals obtained byimage pickup by an image pickup device.

BACKGROUND ART

In HDR (High Dynamic Range) imaging, it is possible to express videoshaving a wide dynamic range and realize high-luminance expressions andexpressions of colors having high luminance, that have been unable to befully expressed by SDR (Standard Dynamic Range) video signals having astandard dynamic range displayable on a normal monitor.

Patent Literature 1 discloses a method of encoding an HDR video and anLDR video together.

CITATION LIST Patent Literature

Patent Literature 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No.2015-506623

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION Technical Problem

The present technology aims at solving various problems in a case ofsimultaneously generating a plurality of videos having different dynamicranges, such as an HDR video and an SDR video, from pixel signalsobtained by image pickup by an image pickup unit.

Solution to Problem

For solving the problem described above, an image pickup systemaccording to an embodiment of the present technology includes aprocessing circuit that generates a first video signal having a firstdynamic range from a pixel signal generated by an image pickup unit thatcaptures a subject to obtain a pixel signal, and generates a secondvideo signal having a second dynamic range correlated with the firstdynamic range.

In this image pickup system, an HDR video and an SDR video can begenerated simultaneously by the processing circuit from the pixel signalobtained by the image pickup unit. Further, in this image pickup system,since the processing circuit generates, from the pixel signal, thesecond video signal having the second dynamic range correlated with thefirst dynamic range of the first video signal, it is possible toperform, in a case where brightness in appearance of the first videosignal is changed by an iris adjustment, an equivalent change on thebrightness in appearance of the second video signal created simultaneouswith the first video signal.

The processing circuit may be configured to set, on a basis ofinformation for setting the correlation between the first dynamic rangeand the second dynamic range, the second dynamic range while using thefirst dynamic range as a reference.

The processing circuit may be configured to set a ratio between a firstgain for the pixel signal used for generating the first video signal anda second gain for the pixel signal used for generating the second videosignal, on a basis of the information for setting the correlation.

The processing circuit may be configured to generate the first videosignal having the first dynamic range from a signal obtained by carryingout gamma signal processing on the pixel signal.

The first video signal may be an SDR (Standard Dynamic Range) video, andthe second video signal may be an HDR (High Dynamic Range) video.

The image pickup system according to the present technology may furtherinclude a display that displays the first video signal generated by theprocessing circuit.

The display may be a viewfinder.

The processing circuit may carry out processing of displaying thecorrelation between the first dynamic range and the second dynamic rangeon the display on a basis of the information for setting thecorrelation.

In the image pickup system according to the present technology, whilethe first video signal is displayed on the display, iris adjustmentprocessing is carried out on a basis of an iris adjustment input.

An image pickup method according to another aspect of the presenttechnology includes:

capturing, by an image pickup unit, a subject to generate a pixelsignal; and

generating, by a processing circuit, a first video signal having a firstdynamic range from the pixel signal generated by the image pickup unit,and generating a second video signal having a second dynamic rangecorrelated with the first dynamic range.

A program according to another aspect of the present technology is aprogram that causes a computer to operate as

a processing circuit that generates a first video signal having a firstdynamic range from a pixel signal generated by an image pickup unit thatcaptures a subject to obtain a pixel signal, and generates a secondvideo signal having a second dynamic range correlated with the firstdynamic range.

An image pickup apparatus according to further another aspect of thepresent technology includes:

an image pickup unit that captures a subject to obtain a pixel signal;and

a processing circuit that generates a first video signal having a firstdynamic range from the pixel signal generated by the image pickup unit,and generates a second video signal having a second dynamic rangecorrelated with the first dynamic range.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

As described above, according to the present technology, it is possibleto solve various problems in a case of simultaneously generating aplurality of videos having different dynamic ranges, such as an HDRvideo and an SDR video, from pixel signals obtained by image pickup byan image pickup unit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[FIG. 1] A block diagram showing an overall hardware configuration of animage pickup system 1 according to a first embodiment of the presenttechnology.

[FIG. 2] A block diagram showing functional configurations of an HDRprocess unit 22 and an SDR process unit 23 in the image pickup system 1shown in FIG. 1.

[FIG. 3] A diagram showing a relationship between dynamic ranges of anSDR video and an HDR video in a 1:1 setting.

[FIG. 4] A diagram showing a relationship between the dynamic ranges ofan SDR video and an HDR video in an HDR-contrast double setting.

[FIG. 5] A diagram showing a relationship between the dynamic ranges ofan SDR video and an HDR video in an SDR-D-Range-Gamma 350% setting.

[FIG. 6] A diagram showing a relationship between the dynamic ranges ofan SDR video and an HDR video in an HDR contrast double &SDR-D-Range-Gamma 220% setting.

[FIG. 7] A block diagram showing Modified Example 1 of the image pickupsystem according to the present technology.

[FIG. 8] A block diagram showing Modified Example 2 of the image pickupsystem according to the present technology.

[FIG. 9] A block diagram showing Modified Example 3 of the image pickupsystem according to the present technology.

[FIG. 10] A block diagram showing Modified Example 4 of the image pickupsystem according to the present technology.

MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present technology will be described.

First Embodiment

[Hardware Configuration of Image Pickup System]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an overall hardware configuration ofan image pickup system according to a first embodiment of the presenttechnology.

As shown in the figure, this image pickup system 1 includes an imagepickup apparatus 10 and a camera control unit 20. The image pickupapparatus 10 and the camera control unit 20 are connected via a cameracable 13 such as an optical fiber.

The image pickup apparatus 10 includes an optical system 11 including alens group for image pickup, an image pickup device 12, a preprocessor13, a transmission unit 14, and a CPU 15.

The image pickup device 12 is an image sensor such as a CMOS(Complementary Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor) device and a CCD(Charge-Coupled Device), and converts light taken in via the opticalsystem (not shown) into an electric pixel signal corresponding to alight intensity.

It should be noted that in the configuration of the image pickup system1 according to the present technology, an “image pickup unit”corresponds to the image pickup apparatus 10 described above.

The preprocessor 13 carries out signal correction processing such asdefect correction on pixel signals obtained by the image pickup device12 and lens aberration correction.

The transmission unit 14 carries out processing of transmitting thepixel signals output from the preprocessor 13 to the camera control unit20 via the camera cable 13. Specifically, the pixel signals transmittedto the camera control unit 20 by the transmission unit 14 are RAW imagesignals that have not been subjected to processing related to a gain ordynamic range, debayer processing, gamma signal processing, and thelike.

Meanwhile, the camera control unit 20 includes a transmission unit 21,an HDR process unit 22, an SDR process unit 23, and a CPU 24.

The transmission unit 21 receives pixel signals transmitted from theimage pickup apparatus 10 via the camera cable 13 and supplies the pixelsignals to the HDR process unit 22 and the SDR process unit 23.

The HDR process unit 22 carries out processing of generating an HDRvideo from the pixel signals supplied from the transmission unit 21.

The SDR process unit 23 carries out processing of generating an SDRvideo from the pixel signals supplied from the transmission unit 21.

The HDR process unit 22 and the SDR process unit 23 are constituted ofone or a plurality of integrated circuits and the like, and correspondto a processing circuit in the configuration of the present technology.

The CPU 24 is a controller that controls respective parts of the cameracontrol unit 20. The CPU 24 is capable of communicating with anoperation apparatus 40 connected via a communication channel 50 such asa LAN (Local Area Network). The operation apparatus 40 includes adisplay 41, an operation input unit 42, and a control unit 43. Theoperation apparatus 40 may be constituted of, for example, aninformation processing apparatus such as a personal computer, adedicated control panel for camera control, or the like. The operationinput unit 42 may be constituted of, for example, operation keys, amouse, a trackball, a dial, a lever, a touch sensor panel, a remotecontroller, or the like. The control unit 43 of the operation apparatus40 is constituted of a circuit such as a CPU, receives various controlcommands and setting information from a creator such as a VE (Video

Engineer), and communicates with the CPU 24 of the camera control unit20 via the communication channel 50.

Next, configurations of the HDR process unit 22 and SDR process unit 23of the camera control unit 20 will be described.

[Configurations of HDR Process Unit 22 and SDR Process Unit 23]

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing functional configurations of the HDRprocess unit 22 and SDR process unit 23.

The HDR process unit 22 includes an HDR gain adjustment unit 221, amatrix processing unit 223, a black level correction unit 225, a detailprocessing unit 227, an OETF unit 228, and a formatter 229.

In addition to control of a master gain, the HDR gain adjustment unit221 controls an RGB gain for a white balance adjustment.

The matrix processing unit 223 carries out debayer processing, linearmatrix processing, and the like on the pixel signals that have passedthrough the HDR gain adjustment unit 221, and obtains color image data.

The black level correction unit 225 carries out black level correctionof the color image data.

The detail processing unit 227 carries out detail processing of thecolor image data.

The OETF unit 228 carries out gamma signal processing by performinggradation compression by OETF (Optical-Electro Transfer Function) forHDR, on the color image data.

The formatter 229 converts the color image data that has passed throughthe OETF unit 228 into an HDR video transmission format.

Next, the configuration of the SDR process unit 23 will be described.

The SDR process unit 23 includes a resolution conversion unit 230, anSDR gain adjustment unit 231, a matrix processing unit 233, a blacklevel correction unit 235, a knee/detail processing unit 237, a gammaprocessing unit 238, and a formatter 239.

The resolution conversion unit 230 converts a resolution of pixelsignals transmitted from the image pickup apparatus 10 (e.g., 4Kresolution) into a resolution of HD or the like.

The SDR gain adjustment unit 231 controls a master gain based on arelative gain and also controls an RGB gain for a white balanceadjustment. Here, the relative gain is information for setting acorrelation between a dynamic range of an SDR video (first dynamicrange) and a dynamic range of an HDR video (second dynamic range). Onthe basis of this relative gain, the SDR gain adjustment unit 231adjusts a ratio of a master gain of the SDR gain adjustment unit 231 toa master gain of the HDR gain adjustment unit 221. The relative gain isset with respect to the SDR gain adjustment unit 231 by the CPU 24.

The matrix processing unit 233 carries out debayer processing, linearmatrix processing, and the like on the pixel signals that have passedthrough the SDR gain adjustment unit 231, to obtain color image data.

The black level correction unit 235 carries out black level correctionof the color image data.

The knee/detail processing unit 237 carries out knee (KNEE) correctionand detail processing on the color image data.

The gamma processing unit 238 carries out gamma processing and gammaprocessing for display, with respect to the SDR dynamic range set by theSDR gain adjustment unit 231.

The formatter 239 converts the color image data into an SDR videotransmission format.

[Problems to be Solved by Image Pickup System 1 of this Embodiment]

In HDR videos, due to a wide dynamic range, it is difficult for breakageof a video due to over range to occur, and even if a luminance referencefor shooting is changed, the video appears quite well as a videoexpression. However, on the contrary, the video becomes too brighterthan a level intended by the creator, or an expression of brightnesstends to vary for each scene.

In a typical HDR video creation field, pixel signals obtained by animage pickup apparatus are recorded as linearly as possible with a widedynamic range, and minor video signal adjustments are performed so as tobe suited for viewing in post-production, to thus obtain an HDR videohaving brightness intended by the creator. However, in HDR livebroadcasting in sports broadcasting and the like, for example, an HDRvideo needs be created in real time. In this regard, some kind of aluminance reference is required for HDR shooting, but no such referenceexists yet.

Further, while HDR imaging is expected to become a mainstream in afuture video shooting field, a state where HDR videos and SDR videoscoexist is expected to continue for some time in the future. Therefore,there is a need for an image pickup system suitable for the state whereHDR videos and SDR videos coexist. The image pickup system of thisembodiment can solve at least the respective problems described above.

It should be noted that a luminance dynamic range of an HDR video iswider than a luminance dynamic range of an SDR video. For example,assuming that the luminance dynamic range of the SDR video is 0 to 100%,the luminance dynamic range of the HDR video is, for example, 100% to1300%, 100% to 10000%, or the like. An output luminance range of theimage pickup apparatus 10 is 0 to 600% or the like.

In the image pickup system 1 of this embodiment, it is possible tosimultaneously generate, by the HDR process unit 22 and the SDR processunit 23 provided in the camera control unit 20, an HDR video and an SDRvideo from pixel signals transmitted from the image pickup apparatus 10.Specifically, pixel signals transmitted from the image pickup apparatus10 to the camera control unit 20 via the camera cable 30 arerespectively supplied to the HDR process unit 22 and the SDR processunit 23 provided in the camera control unit 20. As a result, an HDRvideo is generated in the HDR process unit 22, and an SDR video isgenerated in the SDR process unit 23.

Further, the SDR gain adjustment unit 231 of the camera control unit 20includes a function of varying a ratio of a master gain on the SDRprocess side to a master gain on the HDR process side, on the basis of arelative range given from the CPU 24. The relative range is informationfor setting a correlation between the dynamic range of an SDR video andthe dynamic range of an HDR video. For example, the relative range isinformation that defines how many times the dynamic range of the SDRvideo the dynamic range of the HDR video is to be set to. By thisrelative range, the ratio of the master gain on the SDR process side tothe master gain on the HDR process side can be set to an arbitrary ratiosuch as 1 and ½, for example.

If the ratio of the master gain on the SDR process side to the mastergain on the HDR process side is set in this way, the dynamic range ofthe HDR video correlated with the dynamic range of the SDR video can beobtained.

More specifically, an upper limit reference of the dynamic range of theSDR video is given by reference white (Diffuse-White) selected by thecreator. In the image pickup system 1 according to this embodiment, byselecting this reference white (Diffuse-White) of the SDR video, anupper limit reference of the dynamic range of the HDR video (referencewhite (Diffuse-White) of HDR video) is also determined on the basis ofthe correlation based on the relative range.

The relative range should be selected as appropriate in accordance witha shooting environment such as daytime, nighttime, indoor, outdoor,inside a studio, fine weather, and rainy weather. Therefore, a pluralityof types of relative ranges associated with various shootingenvironments are prepared. As a method of preparing a plurality of typesof relative ranges associated with the shooting environments, there is amethod of comparing, by human eyes, brightness of appearance of the SDRvideo and HDR video simultaneously output from the camera control unit20. It is only necessary to change the value of the relative range andcompare the SDR video and the HDR video every time the value is changed,and determine a relative range in which the brightness in appearance ofthe SDR video is close to that of the HDR video as a relative rangeoptimum for the shooting environment.

If the relative range optimum for the shooting environment is set, whenthe brightness of the SDR video is changed by an iris adjustment, thechange of the brightness intended by the creator of the HDR video can bereflected on the appearance of the HDR video.

Next, a relative range setting example will be described.

[1:1 Setting]

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a relationship between the dynamic ranges ofthe SDR video and the HDR video when set at 1:1.

It should be noted that in the following figures including the currentfigure that are used as the relative range setting example, arelationship before applying an OETF gamma on the HDR video side and adisplay gamma on the SDR video side is shown to help understand therelationship between the dynamic range of the SDR video and that of theHDR video.

A case of transmitting 4K-resolution pixel signals (Linear Plane Video)from the image pickup apparatus 10 to the camera control unit 20 isassumed. A dynamic range of an image pickup device is, for example,1300% assuming that the dynamic range of the SDR video is 100%.

In the 1:1 setting, the dynamic range of the HDR video and the dynamicrange of the SDR video become the same. In other words, the dynamicrange of HDR video is adjusted to the dynamic range of the SDR video.

It should be noted that in the SDR video, high-luminance componentsexceeding the dynamic range of the SDR video in the pixel signals aresqueezed into a few-% high-luminance part in the dynamic range of theSDR video by a knee function and a clip function.

[HDR-Contrast Double Setting]

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a relationship between the dynamic ranges ofan SDR video and an HDR video when HDR-contrast is doubled. In thissetting, the master gain of the SDR gain adjustment unit 231 is set tobe ½ the master gain of the HDR gain adjustment unit 221 by the relativerange. As a result, the dynamic range of the HDR video becomes twice thedynamic range of the SDR video, and the contrast of the HDR video isdoubled with respect to the SDR video.

[SDR-D-Range-Gamma 350% Setting]

In this image pickup system 1, the SDR process unit 23 is also capableof generating an SDR video from signals obtained by applying gamma onpixel signals. In this case, since a dynamic range of the pixel signalsis partially compressed to the SDR dynamic range, the reference white(Diffuse-White) as an upper limit of the dynamic range of the HDR videocan be set to become higher.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing, as an example thereof, a relationshipbetween the dynamic ranges of the SDR video and the HDR video in anSDR-D-Range-Gamma 350% setting.

By applying gamma to the pixel signals input to the SDR process unit 23,a part up to 350% of the dynamic range of the pixel signals iscompressed to the SDR dynamic range. As a result, the HDR dynamic rangeis set to be 350% the SDR dynamic range.

[HDR Contrast Double & SDR-D-Range-Gamma 220% Setting]

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a relationship between the dynamic ranges ofthe SDR video and the HDR video in an HDR contrast double &SDR-D-Range-Gamma 220% setting.

In this way, by combining HDR contrast double and SDR-D-range-Gamma220%, the HDR dynamic range is set to become 440% the SDR dynamic range.

[Regarding Method of Setting Relative Range]

The camera control unit 20 is connected to the operation apparatus 40 ofthe creator via the communication channel 50 such as a LAN (Local AreaNetwork), for example. The operation apparatus 40 includes the display41, the operation input unit 42, and the control unit 43. The controlunit 43 is capable of causing the display 41 to display a relative rangeselection GUI. The creator can select an arbitrary relative range usingthe GUI displayed on the display 41 by selecting it by an operationinput of the operation input unit 42. The control unit 43 of theoperation apparatus 40 receives information of the relative rangeselected by the creator using the operation input unit 42 and transmitsrelative range setting information to the CPU 24 of the camera controlunit 20 via the communication channel 50. The CPU 24 of the cameracontrol unit 20 sets the relative range in the SDR gain adjustment unit231 of the SDR process unit 23 on the basis of this relative rangesetting information.

Further, an SDR video generated by the camera control unit 20 isdisplayed on the display 41 of the operation apparatus 40. The creatorcan check the expressions of brightness and colors of the SDR video onthe display 41. At this time, the control unit 43 of the operationapparatus 40 causes the correlation between the dynamic range of the SDRvideo (or upper limit reference thereof) and the dynamic range of the

HDR video (or upper limit reference thereof) to be displayed on thedisplay 41 in a form of, for example, “SDR:HDR=100%:200%”, on the basisof the set relative range. Accordingly, the creator can check therelationship between the expressions of brightness and colors of the SDRvideo and the relative range.

Alternatively, the correlation between the dynamic range of the SDRvideo (or upper limit reference thereof) and the dynamic range of theHDR video (or upper limit reference thereof) may be displayed in a formof a graph as shown in FIGS. 3 to 6.

[Regarding Iris Adjustment]

In this image pickup system 1, an operation input for an iris adjustmentcan be performed using the GUI displayed on the display 41. The controlunit 43 of the operation apparatus 40 transmits control information forthe iris adjustment to the CPU 24 of the camera control unit 20 via thecommunication channel 50 on the basis of the operation input for theiris adjustment received by the operation input unit 42. The CPU 24 ofthe camera control unit 20 is capable of mutually communicating with theCPU 15 of the image pickup apparatus 10 via the camera cable 30. Uponreceiving the control information for the iris adjustment from theoperation apparatus 40, the CPU 24 of the camera control unit 20notifies the CPU 15 of the image pickup apparatus 10 of this controlinformation via the camera cable 30. The CPU 15 of the image pickupapparatus 10 controls an iris of the optical system 11 in accordancewith this control information.

As described above, in the image pickup system 1 of this embodiment, theHDR video and the SDR video can be simultaneously generated by the HDRprocess unit 22 and SDR process unit 23 in the camera control unit 20from pixel signals obtained by the image pickup apparatus 10.

In addition, in the image pickup system 1 of this embodiment, when thebrightness in appearance of the SDR video is changed by the irisadjustment, an equivalent change can be made to the brightness inappearance of the HDR video created simultaneous with the SDR video.Accordingly, even in a case of creating an HDR video in real time, forexample, an HDR video having brightness suited for viewing can becreated.

MODIFIED EXAMPLE 1

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing Modified Example 1 of the image pickupsystem according to the present technology.

This image pickup system 1A is configured to cause a viewfinder 16 ofthe image pickup apparatus 10 to display an SDR video generated by thecamera control unit 20.

The SDR video generated by the SDR process unit 23 of the camera controlunit 20 is transmitted to the image pickup apparatus 10 by thetransmission unit 21 via the camera cable 30. The transmission unit 14of the image pickup apparatus 10 outputs the SDR video transmitted fromthe camera control unit 20 to the viewfinder 16. By performing an irisadjustment of appropriate brightness on the SDR video, a video havingappropriate brightness can be displayed on the viewfinder 16, andshooting can be performed while viewing a video no different frombefore.

MODIFIED EXAMPLE 2

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing Modified Example 2 of the image pickupsystem according to the present technology. In this image pickup system1B, the image pickup apparatus 10 includes, in addition to theviewfinder 16 described above, an SDR process unit 18 having aconfiguration similar to that of the SDR process unit 23 of the cameracontrol unit 20.

In this image pickup system 1B, an SDR video is generated by the SDRprocess unit 18 of the image pickup apparatus 10, and this SDR video isoutput to the viewfinder 16 to be displayed. Therefore, a personshooting can view the SDR video without the SDR video being transmittedfrom the camera control unit 20.

In this image pickup system 1B, the CPU 24 of the camera control unit 20and the CPU 15 of the image pickup apparatus 10 communicate with eachother via the camera cable 30, to set respective parameter valuesincluding the relative gain set in the respective units of the SDRprocess unit 23 of the camera control unit 20 also in the respectiveunits of the SDR process unit 18 of the image pickup apparatus 10.Therefore, it is possible to display the SDR video which is no differentin appearance from that of Modified Example 1 on the viewfinder 16.

MODIFIED EXAMPLE 3

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing Modified Example 3 of the image pickupsystem according to the present technology.

This image pickup system 1C includes an HDR process unit 19 in the imagepickup apparatus 10. An HDR video generated by the HDR process unit 19of the image pickup apparatus 10 is transmitted to the camera controlunit 20 and output as it is as an HDR video of the main-line system.Further, the HDR video transmitted to the camera control unit 20 is alsosupplied to an HDR inverse-transformation unit 25 provided in the cameracontrol unit 20. The HDR inverse transformation unit 25 inverselytransforms the HDR video into original pixel signals and outputs thepixel signals to the SDR process unit 23 of the camera control unit 20.An SDR video generated by the SDR process unit 23 is supplied to themain-line system, and is transmitted back to the image pickup apparatus10 via the transmission unit 21 and output to the viewfinder 16 of theimage pickup apparatus 10 to be displayed.

MODIFIED EXAMPLE 4

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing Modified Example 4 of the imagepickup system according to the present technology.

This image pickup system 1D is configured by adding the SDR process unit18 to the image pickup apparatus 10 of the image pickup system 1Caccording to Modified Example 3 above. In other words, the SDR processunit 18 in the image pickup apparatus 10 generates and displays it onthe viewfinder 16. Therefore, a system for receiving an SDR video fromthe camera control unit 20 is unnecessary in the image pickup apparatus10.

Modified Example 5

Although the case where the present technology is applied to the imagepickup system constituted of the image pickup apparatus 10 and thecamera control unit 20 has been described above, the present technologycan also be configured as a single image pickup apparatus byincorporating the configurations of the HDR process unit 22 and SDRprocess unit 23 of the camera control unit 20 in the image pickupapparatus 10 shown in FIG. 1. In this case, the image pickup device 11in the image pickup apparatus 10 corresponds to the “image pickup unit”in the configuration of the image pickup apparatus according to thepresent technology.

MODIFIED EXAMPLE 6

Furthermore, it is also possible to configure the camera control unit 20using a computer. Specifically, by installing a program for causing thecomputer to operate as the camera control unit 20 in the computer andconnecting it with the image pickup apparatus 10, an image pickup systemequivalent to that of the first embodiment can be realized.

MODIFIED EXAMPLE 7

In the modified examples described above, the CPU 24 of the cameracontrol unit 20 or the CPU 15 of the image pickup apparatus 10 maydisplay the correlation between the dynamic range of the SDR video andthe dynamic range of the HDR video on the viewfinder 16 in a form of,for example, “SDR:HDR=100%:200%”, on the basis of the relative range.

It should be noted that the present technology can also take thefollowing configurations.

(1) An image pickup system, including

a processing circuit that generates a first video signal having a firstdynamic range from a pixel signal generated by an image pickup unit thatcaptures a subject to obtain a pixel signal, and generates a secondvideo signal having a second dynamic range correlated with the firstdynamic range.

(2) The image pickup system according to (1), in which

the processing circuit is configured to set, on a basis of informationfor setting the correlation between the first dynamic range and thesecond dynamic range, the second dynamic range while using the firstdynamic range as a reference.

(3) The image pickup system according to (1) or (2), in which

the processing circuit is configured to set a ratio between a first gainfor the pixel signal used for generating the first video signal and asecond gain for the pixel signal used for generating the second videosignal, on a basis of the information for setting the correlation.

(4) The image pickup system according to any one of (1) to (3), in which

the processing circuit is configured to generate the first video signalhaving the first dynamic range from a signal obtained by carrying outgamma signal processing on the pixel signal.

(5) The image pickup system according to any one of (1) to (4), in which

the first video signal is an SDR (Standard Dynamic Range) video, and

the second video signal is an HDR (High Dynamic Range) video.

(6) The image pickup system according to any one of (1) to (5), furtherincluding

a display that displays the first video signal generated by theprocessing circuit.

(7) The image pickup system according to (6), in which

the display is a viewfinder.

(8) The image pickup system according to (6) or (7), in which

the processing circuit carries out processing of displaying thecorrelation between the first dynamic range and the second dynamic rangeon the display on a basis of the information for setting thecorrelation.

(9) The image pickup system according to any one of (1) to (8), in which

while the first video signal is displayed on the display, irisadjustment processing is carried out on a basis of an iris adjustmentinput.

(10) An image pickup method, including:

capturing, by an image pickup unit, a subject to generate a pixelsignal; and

generating, by a processing circuit, a first video signal having a firstdynamic range from the pixel signal generated by the image pickup unit,and generating a second video signal having a second dynamic rangecorrelated with the first dynamic range.

(11) The image pickup method according to (10), in which

the processing circuit sets, on a basis of information for setting thecorrelation between the first dynamic range and the second dynamicrange, the second dynamic range while using the first dynamic range as areference.

(12) The image pickup method according to (10) or (11), in which

the processing circuit sets a ratio between a first gain for the pixelsignal used for generating the first video signal and a second gain forthe pixel signal used for generating the second video signal, on a basisof the information for setting the correlation.

(13) The image pickup method according to any one of (10) to (12), inwhich

the processing circuit generates the first video signal having the firstdynamic range from a signal obtained by carrying out gamma signalprocessing on the pixel signal.

(14) The image pickup method according to any one of (10) to (13), inwhich

the first video signal is an SDR (Standard Dynamic Range) video, and

the second video signal is an HDR (High Dynamic Range) video.

(15) The image pickup method according to any one of (10) to (14),further including

a display that displays the first video signal generated by theprocessing circuit.

(16) The image pickup method according to (15), in which

the display is a viewfinder.

(17) The image pickup method according to (15) or (16), in which

the processing circuit carries out processing of displaying thecorrelation between the first dynamic range and the second dynamic rangeon the display on a basis of the information for setting thecorrelation.

(18) The image pickup method according to any one of (10) to (17), inwhich

the processing circuit carries out iris adjustment processing on a basisof an iris adjustment input while the first video signal is displayed onthe display.

(19) A program that causes a computer to operate as

a processing circuit that generates a first video signal having a firstdynamic range from a pixel signal generated by an image pickup unit thatcaptures a subject to obtain a pixel signal, and generates a secondvideo signal having a second dynamic range correlated with the firstdynamic range.

(20) The program according to (19), in which

the processing circuit sets, on a basis of information for setting thecorrelation between the first dynamic range and the second dynamicrange, the second dynamic range while using the first dynamic range as areference.

(21) The program according to (19) or (20), in which

the processing circuit sets a ratio between a first gain for the pixelsignal used for generating the first video signal and a second gain forthe pixel signal used for generating the second video signal, on a basisof the information for setting the correlation.

(22) The program according to any one of (19) to (21), in which

the processing circuit generates the first video signal having the firstdynamic range from a signal obtained by carrying out gamma signalprocessing on the pixel signal.

(23) The program according to any one of (19) to (22), in which

the first video signal is an SDR (Standard Dynamic Range) video, and

the second video signal is an HDR (High Dynamic Range) video.

(24) The program according to any one of (19) to (23), further including

a display that displays the first video signal generated by theprocessing circuit.

(25) The program according to (24), in which the display is aviewfinder.

(26) The program according to (24) or (25), in which

the processing circuit carries out processing of displaying thecorrelation between the first dynamic range and the second dynamic rangeon the display on a basis of the information for setting thecorrelation.

(27) The program according to any one of (19) to (26), in which

the processing circuit carries out iris adjustment processing on a basisof an iris adjustment input while the first video signal is displayed onthe display.

(28) An image pickup apparatus, including

a processing circuit that generates a first video signal having a firstdynamic range from a pixel signal generated by an image pickup unit thatcaptures a subject to obtain a pixel signal, and generates a secondvideo signal having a second dynamic range correlated with the firstdynamic range.

(29) The image pickup apparatus according to (28), in which

the processing circuit is configured to set, on a basis of informationfor setting the correlation between the first dynamic range and thesecond dynamic range, the second dynamic range while using the firstdynamic range as a reference.

(30) The image pickup apparatus according to (28) or (29), in which

the processing circuit is configured to set a ratio between a first gainfor the pixel signal used for generating the first video signal and asecond gain for the pixel signal used for generating the second videosignal, on a basis of the information for setting the correlation.

(31) The image pickup apparatus according to any one of (28) to (30), inwhich

the processing circuit is configured to generate the first video signalhaving the first dynamic range from a signal obtained by carrying outgamma signal processing on the pixel signal.

(32) The image pickup apparatus according to any one of (28) to (31) ,in which

the first video signal is an SDR (Standard Dynamic Range) video, and

the second video signal is an HDR (High Dynamic Range) video.

(33) The image pickup apparatus according to any one of (28) to (32),further including

a display that displays the first video signal generated by theprocessing circuit.

(34) The image pickup apparatus according to (33), in which

the display is a viewfinder.

(35) The image pickup apparatus according to (33) or (34), in which

the processing circuit carries out processing of displaying thecorrelation between the first dynamic range and the second dynamic rangeon the display on a basis of the information for setting thecorrelation.

(36) The image pickup apparatus according to any one of (26) to (35) ,in which

while the first video signal is displayed on the display, irisadjustment processing is carried out on a basis of an iris adjustmentinput.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

-   1 image pickup system-   10 image pickup apparatus-   12 image pickup unit-   15 CPU-   16 viewfinder-   20 camera control unit-   22 HDR process unit-   23 SDR process unit-   24 CPU-   40 operation apparatus-   41 display-   42 operation input unit-   221 HDR gain adjustment unit-   231 SDR gain adjustment unit

1. An image pickup system, comprising a processing circuit thatgenerates a first video signal having a first dynamic range from a pixelsignal generated by an image pickup unit that captures a subject toobtain a pixel signal, and generates a second video signal having asecond dynamic range correlated with the first dynamic range.